Satan
Character Analysis

The storyteller also impersonates Satan, who claims to want to clarify false rumors about him. Satan argues that people are too quick to blame their sinful behavior on him, and that, in fact, most of the time sinners are simply using their own free will. He also claims that God does not care about minor sins, and thus Satan embodies the storyteller’s more liberal view of religion.

Satan Quotes in My Name is Red

The My Name is Red quotes below are all either spoken by Satan or refer to Satan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Vintage edition of My Name is Red published in 2002.

Chapter 47
Quotes

I believe in myself, and, most of the time, pay no mind to what's been said about me. Tonight, however, I've come to this coffeehouse to set my miniaturist and calligrapher brethren straight about certain gossip, lies and rumors. Of course, because I'm the one speaking, you're already prepared to believe the exact opposite of what I say. But you're smart enough to sense that the opposite of what I say is not always true, and though you might doubt me, you're astute enough to take an interest in my words: You're well aware that my name, which appears in the Glorious Koran fifty-two times, is one of the most frequently cited. All right then, let me begin with God's book, the Glorious Koran. Everything about me in there is the truth. Let it be known that when I say this, I do so with the utmost humility. For there's also the issue of style. It has always caused me great pain that I'm belittled in the Glorious Koran. But this pain is my way of life. This is simply the way it is.